Changes in pools of autoantibodies and anti-bacterial antibodies in patients suffering from recurrent infections of the urinary tract and undergoing bacterial immunization treatment

Antibodies (Abs) (IgM, IgA IgG and IgG subclasses) specific for several uropathogenic strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp. and Klebsiella sp.) as well as anti-phospholipids, anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I and anti-laminin antibodies were analyzed in the sera of 20 patients with long-lasting uncomplicated recurrent infections of the lower urinary tract who underwent immunization treatment with a mixture of heat-inactivated bacteria. Immunization had a dual effect: a marked prolongation of the infection-free period in more than half of tested patients (which could be related to the profiles of anti-bacterial antibodies), and the induction of a significant decrease in autoreactivity. The results obtained showed that prolonged infections resulted in a significant rise in IgG specific for phospholipids, beta(2)-glycoprotein I and mouse laminin. However, irrespective of the effect on urinary tract infection per se, immunization induced a noticeable decrease in reactivity toward those antigens (Ag). The most abundant autoantibodies prior to immunization treatment were of IgG2 subclass. A statistically significant decrease in phospholipid specific antibodies belonging to this subclass, and in the concentration of Y7 cross-reactive idiotope, registered only in the responder group: this indicates the significance of natural antibody pool involvement in a proper anti-bacterial immune response. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.